Discusses Smith's campaign for Cambridge botany professorship: unfortunate that Smith has to win over the powerful vice-chancellor, Professor [Isaac] Pennington [(1745-1817), physician and chemist], and Professor [Busick] Harwood [(1750-1814), anatomist], for Dr [Richard] Walker's [(1679-1764)] lectureship. Begs Smith to become a member of the university first to remove obstacles other candidates will take advantage of. In comparison to the expense of the knighthood it would be a minor cost, and as the Linnean Society already has a Duke, Earls, Viscounts, Bishops, and Lords, it is no great favour for the President to have an honorary distinction.

Congratulates JH on the formation of the [Analytical] Society, which will let Britain 'take the lead' in mathematics. Discusses analysis of a radical.

No summary available.

Thanks for essays JH sent; John Playfair was impressed by them. JG is writing material in favor of a Glasgow/Edinburgh canal.

Has been unable to write after falling in icy weather, injuring his hand and leg and developing gout in the former. Hopes Smith received the oysters. Quantity and quality of members of Linnean Society improving but there is a dearth of papers. Thinks Buonaparte is in his last struggle. Everybody "more than complaining" about Dawson Turner and his poor communications. Asks after fourth volume of "Flora Britannica". Has given his son-in-law Mr Lynn, husband of his daughter, Charlotte, a valuable living.

He has been confined to his house for two months with "debility & headaches", a consequence of influenza. His campaign [for botany professorship] is stationary; the present Cambridge vice-chancellor [John Davie] is not a friend so it is not expedient for [Thomas] Martyn to resign, but believes his interest is working as it is to their own concern to have an active professor. Nothing to be done with his knighthood until he is sure of Cambridge. Delayed in sending papers for Linnean Society meeting.

No summary available.

Requests permission to dedicate his work on conchology, written to Linnaean principles, to Smith. History of the work; similar works have been prohibited by expense of engravings. Intends to write a work on "General Conchology"; intends to copy all from nature and not engravings. Will show his drawings to the Linnean Society so specific names can be determined, thus avoiding future disputes; asks Smith's opinion and requests terms of admission. Transcribes newspaper advertisement for the first work.

Death of Lady Brownlow [Sophia Brownlow (1788-1814) wife of John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow, and daughter of Sir Abraham Hume] of a "rheumatick fever". Sir Abraham Hume's reaction. Believes Smith's indisposition a result of "this Siberian winter". Health of various friends including [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert, Sir Joseph Banks, and [Samuel Goodenough].

Sending Smith a new species of 'Sparganium', gathered in 1808 ago on Zetland [Shetland]; observations; believes it was referred to by Mr Neill in his "Tour to Orkney and Zetland", transcribes Neill's comments. Proposes name 'S. longifolium'.

Will be in town and requests addresses of shops where certain experimental apparatus can be purchased. Send [H. E.?] Roscoe's direction.

Looking forward to seeing Smith in London. The Linnean Society is flourishing "more & more every year"; [Aylmer Bourke] Lambert last filled chair "with great good humour & cheerfulness", [William George] Maton absent on account of death of his mother. Sir Joseph Banks passed winter surprisingly well, it gives "one less pain to see him wheeled about, than to see him walk in such a crippled gait". Recently wrote to [William] Webb of Clare Hall; it would be worthwhile if Smith went to Cambridge on his way to London to meet with his supporters there. Transcribes lines of a satirical poem written when the "late Bishop of Norwich" [Charles Manners-Sutton (1755-1828)] succeeded [John Moore (1730-1805)] as Archbishop of Canterbury, "in a more amiable style [sic] than the couplet on poor Lady Brownlow".

Grateful for Smith's condolences on death of his daughter Sophia [Lady Brownlow (1788-1814), wife of John Cust, 1st Earl Brownlow], a "victim of [...] this cruel winter". Believes the people at Cambridge are "most obstinatley blind to their own interests" [Smith's unsuccessful campaign to become Professor of Botany], comments that the Botanical Garden there last summer was in a "most forlorn uncomfortable state". Wishes Smith knew Mr Eustace, a writer who has been staying at Wormleybury. Sophia's death has "badly checked" the pleasure he gained from his plants and garden, which after the death of his wife Amelia were cultivated solely for Sophia.

At home of student in highland moors along Nent River. Describes host family and barren surroundings. Greets all at St. John's. Asks about JH's chemistry lectures.

Encloses possible new species of 'Myosotis', found in this parish; suggests name 'M. sylvestris' [named 'M. intermedia' in Smith herbarium]. Lists new order for genus. Also sends a "flesh-coloured" 'Orchis mascula'. Following their recent enclosure they have lost 'Ophrys spiralis', 'O. fentunculus minimus', 'Veronica scutellata', 'Littorella', and 'Peplis'.

Following resumption of communications between Italy and England is sending copies of his works "Botanicon Etruscum" and "Observationes in varias Trifoliorum species", and [Georgio] Gallesio's "Traite du citrus".

Sends a possible paper for "Linnean Transactions" for Smith to judge whether it makes any additional observations to what appears in George Montagu's [(1753–1815) naturalist] previous paper on Marine Animals [see Related Material]. Enquires after Smith's specimen of 'Lichen scaber' which was described in "English Botany" as a "great botanical rarity".

Introduces Mrs [Agnes] Ibbetson, praises her work on vegetable physiology; she is desirous to submit her manuscript to Smith's perusal.

No longer prevented from renewing their correspondence. Sending plants described in his "Flora Germanica" for comparison with Linnaean specimens. Thanks for praise of his work.

Encloses sheets of her work on vegetable physiology for Smith's opinion; explains her method and reasoning.